Portable electric lantern.



w. G RET HER. PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. 1918. 1,273,851 Patented July 30,1918.

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3 4; A TmR/VEY 'W. GRETHER.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN.

APPLICATIOVN FILE" JAN-26. 19w.

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6%,, A TTORNEV W Patented July .30, 1918."

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'WILLIAM GBETHEB, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

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. specification of Letters Patent Patent d J 1 .3() 191 Application tiled January 26,.19 18. "'Serial No.213,867 I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 'Gnnrnnn,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, 'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Electric Lanterns, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable electric lanterns. .The principal object of my invention is to provide astrong, compact and eflicient la'ntern-for Army, Navy and other use. It may be readily gripped and held by my improved handle, to project a powerful light under the most trying conditions. The handle and easing are so constructed and connected that the batteries may be removed from the latter without disturbing the ban dle.

' Another object of the invention is to pro vide a lantern casing which is so constructed that the batteries contained .thereinmay be afforded ample room to expand, and not damage the same through close contact with it if they deteriorate.

A further object of the invention is to provide for. the lamp an improved form of focusing device that'is simple in construction and exact and fool-proof in operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of bracket support for cooperation with the handle in firmly and removably securing the lantern to a fixed object without danger of it being Y jolted ofi'; I

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification, and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims. I The preferred form of embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front viewof my improved portable lantern. Fig. 2.

is a side elevational view thereof, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the lantern. Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof, with the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a plan viewof the rear end of the handle. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the upper end of the bracket support. AndFig. 7 is a side view, partly insection, of the latter.

Throughout the specification and draw- "nectedto the switch ings,.similar reference characters denote cor-' responding parts.

In a detailed description of the preferred. 'form of embodiment of my invention, the

numeral 1 designates a lantern casing preferably constructed of aluminum and approxlmately elliptical in transverse-cross section. It has a wide low race. 2 fr'om fwhich there projects outwardly a reflector casing 3, preferably circular in vertical cross section. The latter is of large diameter "to accommodate a reflector 4 of suflicient size to project a powerful .light,.the whole {casingbelng constructed with a view to strength and efficiency. It is also constructed with a view to provide ample room {came-yaw cells 5 and 6, whereby, should the latter deteriorate or burn-out, any substance they contain will not come in contact with the side or top 'of the casing to; injure it I The central rear portion of the casing 1 is recessed from top to'bottonn onthedivision line between the cells .5 and 6, and from this recessed part there project outwardly an upper wideledge portion 7, a middle boss portion 8 anda lower small ledgeportion' 9 for purposes to be hereinafter described.

Secured to the middle inner :portion of the rear wallof the main {casing 1, just above the boss 8, is a switch 10 controlled by a push rod 11am projectsa suilicient distance beyond the rear wall of thecasing:

for convenient operation.

, Referring to Fig. 4,'it-will be seen that by a wire 12 a terminal 13 of the dry cell 5.

is connected to a terminal 14"of the dry cell 6; while a wi're15 leads from a terminal 16 of the dry'cell 5 to the switch 10. A wire 17 leads from a terminal 18 of the dry. cell 6 to a lamp socket 19, which is in turn con-' Preferably fitted within the front end of the socket 19 is a coil filament lamp 22.

23 is maintained by a circular lens holder 24.

This holder contains external peripheral bosses 25 through which screws 26 are passed into corresponding bosses on the reflector casing? to firmly, yet removably, secure it 10 through a connection ,not shown.

The lamp socket19 telescopes into a' tubu= la'r member 20 which isftightly received by 'the hollow neck portion 21'of the reflector 4.

1oo In front of the lamp 22 a clear glass lens" or water.

low the boss 8.

to the latter. The lens securing means just described is claimed in my copending application Serial N 0. 179,334 filed July 9th, 1917. T 0 make a water-proof connection between them, the lens 23 is preferably set in the holder 24 by white lead putty 27. An annular copper asbestos gasket 28 is also'preferably interposed between the reflector casing 3 and the lens holder 25 to cooperate with the white lead putty 27 in sealing the reflector casing against the ingress of gas (See Fig. 3.)

For the purpose of properly focusing the lamp 22, there is suitably secured to its socket 19 a hollow focusing clamp 29, whose front end is slidable in the tubular member 20 and whose outer end is of reduced diamejter to-tightly receive a square nut 30 preferably soldered therein. Secured to the front under portion of the focusin clamp 29 1s a saddle-shaped piece 31 which receives a focusing guide 32 whose guiding part is horizontal and whose rear end is vertical for attachment, by means of a bolt 33 and 1 nut 34, to the rear wall of the casing 1 be- (See Fig. 3.) The piece 31 is so positioned on the focusing clamp 29, that it will engage the outer end of the tubular member 20 to prevent the tip of the lamp 22 from engaging the lens 23, which might otherwise happen with in ury to the lens should the lamp be moved forward too far.

To impart to the lamp 22 a longitudinal movement in either direction, for the purpose of giving it a desired focal position, the nut 30 is adapted to receive the threaded shank portion of a long bolt 35 having a screw head 36. The bolt extends outwardly through the boss portion 8 of the casing 1,

to permitits screw head 36 to receive the flat lip portion 37 of a focusing key 38. This lip portion 37 of said key is rotatable in an externally threaded tubular extension 39 of the boss 8, which receives an internally threaded cap 40. The latter terminates at its outer end in an inwardly turned annular flange 41, the latter maintaining the focusing key 38 .in place by loosely engaging anannular collar 42- on the latter. Fixedly secured in the outer end of the key 38 is a radial gripping element 42 by means of which said key may be readily turned to rotate the bolt 35, through the engagement of the lip portion of the key with the screw head of the bolt; Since the bolt itself is restrained from longitudinal movement when rotated, it will impart a longitudinal movement to the nut 30 carried by the focusing clamp 29, to move the lamp 22 toward or away from the reflector 4 until the proper focal adjustment is obtained. The construction just described provides a simple and efiicient focusing device that is so made as not tov invite particular attention from structed of sheet rubber, to prevent the cover from rattling and the entrance of moisture to thecells 5 and "6. An insulating paper lining .46 is also disposed between the cells 5 and 6,'and the-main casing 1, to thoroughly insulate them from the casing as well as to prevent the former from rattling. Instead of dry cells, storage batteries may be employed in my improved lantern without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the numeral 47 designates a handle which is preferably constructed of aluminum,,of bowed shape and'concave in cross section. This handle extends from the top of the reflector casing 3 to the rear lug 7 of the main casing 1, a sufiicient distance above the cover 44 to enable it to be removed, and in the space between the cells -5' and 6 when raised above the handle, to permit them to'be lifted out Without removing the latter. end the handle 47 terminates in a forwardly extending web part 48,- having an archedcentral portion which straddles the top peripheral boss on the reflectorcasing 3. To the top of the latter the handle end 48 is secured by means of screws 49', at a sufficient dista-ncefrom the face 2 of the main casing 1, and'high enough above the latter, to permit the cover 44 to be removed and the batteries lifted out without disturbing the handle.

At its rear endthe handle 47 terminates in an enlarged flat part 50 containing a hole 51 near each lower corner to receive a screw 52 by means of which said end of the handle is firmly secured tothe ledge or lug 7 at the upper portion of the main casing 1. (See Figs. 2, 3 and 5.)

A strong handle is thus firmly secured to the reflector and main casings, in line with the minor axis of. the latter, to permit the lantern to be firmly gripped for any usage to which it may be put, particularly the hard usage of fire-fighting service.

In combination with the handle 47, the following described bracket construction is employed to support the lantern when not in use It will be observed from Fig. 5, that vided with an inverted-T shaped slot 53.

The latter is adapted to receive an inverted- T shaped part of a lateral projection 55 on i a bracket member 56. (See Figs. 2, 6 and 7.)

At its front "the flat portion 50 of the handle 47 is projectio'n extends, and a foot portion 58- extending in the'same direction. Struck upwardly from the latter, near its outer end, is a toe 59 adapted to loosely enter a vertical hole 60 provided to receive it in the ledge or lug 9. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)

Below the line of its lateral extension 55,

the top portion 57 of the bracket 56 is en-C larged to provide a lateral bore 61 adapted to receive a plunger 62 whose nose portion is normallyin the position shown in Fig. .7, or a slight distance beyond the side of the bracket for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The plunger 62' carries a rlghtangled gripping piece 63, each end of wh ch extends outwardly through a transverse slot 64in the bracket top, to provide a means for pressing the plunger inwardly against the compression ofv a coil spring 65 behind it in the bore 61, and whose front end encircles a reduced rear extension 66 of the plunger..

The bracket'member 56 is provided with lateralholes 67 to receive screws or other fastening elements not shown, by means of which it may be firmly secured to a fixed object.

The lantern is preferably fastened to the bracket as follows. It is first brought to a position to permit the inverted T shaped part of the bracket to enter the inverted-T shaped slot in the handle 47, and the toe 59 of thefbracket foot portion 58 to enter the hole 60 in the lug 9. With the plunger 62 drawn back, the inverted-T shaped part of the bracket is forced through the, slot 53 in thellantern handle, until thatpart of the lateral extension 55 between the top of the." bracket and its upturned horn part, is well within the slot 53, whereupon the lantern 1s forced downwardly to bring the lateral extension 55 into the upper portion of the handle slot 53 and the toe 59 well into the .hole 60, after which the spring 65 will snap case when a portable lantern is carried by a,

fast moving. fire-department wagon. Furthermore, by drawing back the plunger and lifting the lantern a suflicient distance to permit the inverted-T shaped part 54 and I toe 59 of the bracket to be withdrawn from the slot 53 and hole. 60 which they respectively occupy in the lantern, the latter may be readily: removed for instant use. Having described my invention, I claim;

v 1. A portable electric lantern comprising a main casing, a reflector casing secured thereto, a lamp within the latter, a reflector behind saidlampin thereflector-casing, a

focusing clamp secured to said'socket, a hollow externally threaded boss extending outwardly from the rear portion of the main casing, a screw extending from which its shank extends, an operating key having a fiat portion rotatable within said boss, adapted to enter the slotted head of the'screw, an annular flange on said key of said boss into the focusing clamp, the head of said'screw adapted to engage the wall of the casing around a 'hole therein through greater diameter than the end of said boss,

" and an internally threaded cap on said boss,

having an opening in its head of less diameter than said flange but large enough to readily receive the. outer endof said key.

2. A portable electric lantern comprising a main casing having two vertical cell receiving portions in horizontal alinement and spaced a short distance apart, a dry cell in each of said receiving portions, a reflector casing secured'to the main casing in front of its cell receiving portions, a cover for the main casing above the cells, and a handle extending from the top of the reflector casing, above said cover, to the rear of the main casing, through the space between the cells in their raised positions, whereby the latter may be removed from the lantern, one on each side of said handle, without the necessity of detaching the latter.

3. In a portable electric lantern, the combination with a handleextending from its front to its rear portion, of a lug to which the lower end of the rear portion of said handle is secured, an inverted-T slot in the ioo rear portion of said handle above the lug, a

bracket having an inverted-T shaped extension on its upperend adapted to enter'said slot, a lug on the lower rear portion of said lantern having a Vertical hole therein, and an upturned projection .on the lower end of said bracket adapted to enter said hole toco6'perate with the inverted-T shaped part in iirrinly holding the lantern'on said bracket.

n a bination with a handle extending from its front to its rear portion, of a lu'g'on the upper rear portion of the lantern to receive the rear end of said handle, an inverted-T slot in the rear portion of said handle above the lug, a bracket having an inverted-T shaped extension on its upper end adapted to enter said slot, a lug on the lower rear portion of said lantern having a vertical hole therein, an upturned projection on the lower end of said bracket adapted to enter said hole, and a spring-pressed plunger in the top portion of said bracket adapted to enter said inverted-T slot when the invert-. ed-T shaped extension is in the upper end thereof, to codperate with the latter and the lower upturned projection in. locking the lantern on said bracket.

5; A portable electric lantern co fi portable electric lantern, the coma casing having two vertical cell receiving said cells may be removed from the lantern,

portions spaced a short distance apart, an ,one on each side of said handle, Without the l electric cell in each of said receiving pornecessity of detaching-the latter. v tions, a cover for said casing above the cells, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set and a handle extending from one side of said my hand this 23rd day of January, 1918. casing to the opposite side thereof, above I WILLIAM GRETHER. said cover and through he space between Witness: v the cells-in their raised positions, whereby HOWARD S.'SMITH. 

